Power Outage in Fremont, OH

An Arctic cold front swept through the area shortly before midnight December 23rd. Low pressure along this front tracked over Lake Erie early in the morning on December 23rd and rapidly intensified through the day while slowly lifting northeast across Ontario. With the frontal passage rain changed to snow with temperatures dropping from the upper 30s and lower 40s to sub-zero in about 8 hours. A period of light to moderate snow occurred behind the front into the morning hours of December 23rd before becoming much lighter by midday. The period of snow and rapidly falling temperatures led to a flash freeze and icy conditions on area roadways. While the falling snow became lighter through the daytime hours of December 23rd, winds began increasing during the pre-dawn hours and gusted over 50 MPH through the day. A peak wind gust of 58 MPH was measured at 1:55 PM December 23rd at the Sandusky County Regional Airport. Scattered tree damage and power outages resulted. Wind gusts very gradually subsided into December 24th, though gusts didn���t drop below 30 MPH until that evening. This led to a prolonged period of widespread blowing and drifting snow beginning early in the morning December 23rd and continuing through the afternoon and evening, with some patchy blowing and drifting snow continuing all the way through Christmas Eve. The Sandusky County Regional Airport reported visibility consistently at or below one-quarter of a mile in falling and/or blowing snow beginning around 4 AM December 23rd and continuing through 5 PM before gradually improving. Wind gusts were well over 35 MPH for that entire period, meaning blizzard conditions were observed. The greatest impact from this storm was to travel due to the flash freeze and extensive blowing and drifting snow, to go along with low visibility. Minor accidents, slide-offs and disabled vehicles were reported throughout the area on December 23rd and 24th. The most significant incident occurred shortly before 12:30 PM December 23rd at mile marker 106 of the Ohio Turnpike, in Townsend Township along the Erie County border. A deadly pile-up involving 46 vehicles occurred, resulting in 4 fatalities (a 59 year-old male, 30 year-old male, 37 year-old female and 19 year-old female). A total of 73 injuries occurred, several critical. At the time of the accident blowing snow was resulting in near-zero visibility with winds gusting over 50 MPH and wind chills between -30 and -35 degrees. Due to the severity of the accident and harsh conditions the Turnpike did not fully reopen in both directions until 5 PM December 24th. The Sandusky County Sheriff called a Level 3 snow emergency the morning of December 23rd, which was not lifted until early December 24th. This closed all roads in the county to non-emergency travel. Wind chills plunged below 0 around 4 AM December 23rd and did not warm back above 0 until the early morning hours of December 26th. A minimum wind chill of -37 degrees was reported at 9:55 AM December 23rd at the Sandusky County Regional Airport. A weather station in Fremont reported a wind chill of -33 degrees at 11:00 AM. A number of burst pipes were reported across northern Ohio due to this cold, with temperatures remaining in the single digits until Christmas morning. Snowfall totals in the county averaged 2 to 3 inches.

Four power poles downed at US-6 and County Road 294 northeast of Vickery. Person was trapped in car in between poles, but was not injured.

Five power poles were completely broken off near the ground on Ohio State Route 510 north of Clyde.

High wind gusts of at least 60 mph downed trees, large limbs and power lines throughout the county. Scattered power outages were reported. A tractor trailer on US 20 outside of Fremont was blown over due to the winds.

Trees and power lines were downed and scattered power outages were also reported across the area.

Automated sensors in the county reported winds of 45 to 50 mph. Emergency management reported trees and power lines down across the county, leading to power outages. An awning blew off a home and damaged some vehicles on South Street in Fremont.

High winds downed trees and power lines in the Woodville area. Some power outages were reported.

Thunderstorm winds snapped a power pole and downed some power poles.

Thunderstorm winds snapped a power pole.

High winds estimated to be at least 60 mph downed trees and large limbs throughout the county. A couple power poles were also reported down with scattered power outages reported. The damage was the most concentrated in the western end of the county.

Mixed precipitation spread across the area early on the 12th and then transitioned to snow from west to east. Much of the area also saw a period of freezing rain. The snow increased in intensity during the late morning hours with visibilities less than one half mile. North to northeast winds increased as the low passed to the south of the area. Winds gusted to more than 40 mph during the early afternoon hours. Winds continued to gust to more than 30 mph through the evening hours. The strong winds combined with the snow to create significant blowing and drifting and very treacherous driving conditions. Snowfall totals of up to 6 inches were reported along with a glaze of ice in many areas. Schools across most of northern Ohio were closed on the 12th and the evening commute was very difficult. Dozens of accidents and a some power outages were reported.

High winds downed dozens of trees and large limbs across Sandusky County. A few electric customers lost power during the storm.

High winds downed a couple of tree limbs and power lines.

A few power lines were downed across the county.

A strong cold front moved across Sandusky County during the late morning hours of December 9th. Southwest winds behind the front rapidly increased. By midday, wind gusts were in excess of 40 mph. Gusts increased further during the early afternoon hours with peak gusts of around 60 mph reported during the late afternoon hours. Winds continued to gust to as much as 50 mph through 10 pm. A 58 mph gust was measured at Clyde at 5:25 pm. The high winds downed a few trees, utility poles and power lines in Sandusky County. Scattered power outages were reported. Some homes and buildings in the county sustained minor damage. Most of this was from lost siding or roofing.

Many trees and power lines were reported down.

A few trees, large limbs and power lines were reported down.

A strong cold front moved across Sandusky County during the evening of February 11th. West to southwest winds gusted to more than 60 mph behind the front. Winds finally diminished a couple hours before daybreak on the 12th. Hundreds of trees and utility poles were downed in the county causing scattered power outages. Many buildings in the county sustained damage. Most of this was from lost shingles, but a few buildings lost gutters or sections of siding. A business in Fremont lost a large window and had much of it's inventory damaged by the strong winds. A couple school districts in the county delayed the start of classes because of power outages.

High winds associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ike began during the late afternoon hours of September 14th and continued through most of the evening. Wind gusts were estimated to be around 60 mph with the strongest winds occurring between 5 and 7 pm. Damage in the county was extensive with thousands of trees and many utility poles downed. Widespread power outages occurred as well with some customers without power for several days. Many homes and buildings were damaged across the county. The damage ranged from a few shingles torn off to significant structural damage caused by fallen trees landing on roofs. Numerous vehicles were damaged by fallen trees and limbs and also from flying debris. This storm hampered travel as downed trees and power lines forced the closure of many roads. Substantial clean up costs were incurred by local governments. Some of the schools in the county were forced to close on Monday the 15th because of the power outages. Significant crop losses occurred as well. Corn and soy bean yields were reduced between 3 and 5 percent in many areas.

Numerous trees and power lines were reported down countywide.

Power lines were reported down in the northwest portion of the county.

Snow began in Sandusky County during the afternoon hours of December 15th and changed to freezing rain late in the evening. The freezing rain changed back to snow during the early morning hours of the 16th. The snow intensified during the late morning hours with visibilities of less than a half mile reported. Winds gusted to nearly 40 mph on the 16th which caused considerable blowing and drifting. The snow finally tapered off to flurries during the afternoon of the 16th. Around a quarter inch of ice accumulation and around 6 inches of snow was reported over most of the county. A cooperative observer in Fremont reported a storm total of 8.0 inches of snow. Many accidents and a few power outages were reported.

Observed winds by a trained spotter were estimated at 60 mph. Strong winds damaged a roof of a house and uprooted a tree 24 inches in diameter. Numerous other trees were downed across the county along with power lines. In Woodville, two tree limbs between 12 and 18 inches in diameter were taken down as the storms passed through the county.

A line of severe thunderstorms moved across Sandusky County during the early morning hours causing widespread damage and scattered power outages. A 60 mph gust was measured at Woodville at 4:10 a.m. Dozens of trees were downed across the county. At least a few vehicles were damaged by fallen trees and flying debris.

A tornado touched down just northwest of Fremont near the intersection of Shade Road and Four Mile House Road. A house was heavily damaged and a motor home destroyed near this location. From the initial touchdown site, the tornado traveled northeast for around three and a half miles and then dissipated east of State Route 19 just to the south of the Ohio Turnpike. A second home was heavily damaged near Booktown Road at State Route 19. Elsewhere along the damage path, a few homes sustained minor damage and seven barns were leveled. One of the barns contained a collection of antique cars which were destroyed. Many trees and power poles were also downed along the damage path which was generally no more than 50 yards in width.

Thunderstorm winds downed many trees and a few power poles across the county. A 60 mph wind gust was measured seven miles west of Fremont. A nearby radio tower was damaged. A 64 foot long pole barn was blown down just south of Gibsonburg. A nearby motor home was rolled over and a semi truck was blown over on U.S. Highway 6 also near Gibsonburg. To the east of Gibsonburg, a barn roof was damaged. In Helena, a home and adjacent barn lost large sections of roof.